"What God is doing in Algeria today is totally unique in history,” says OM Algeria Field Leader Youssef. “We have seen the power of God coming in amazing ways.”
Since Youssef and his wife, Hee Tee, from Malaysia, began the ministry of the House of Hope in Algeria in 1996, they have witnessed God change hundreds of lives. The country has one of the fastest growing churches in the Muslim World, which is also the third largest evangelical church in the Arab World.
But even though the Church is growing—Youssef says it numbers about 100,000—areas in the country still have not heard the gospel. According to Operation World, Algeria is home to 41 people groups, 85 per cent of whom are unreached.
It was a heart of compassion for his people and the leading of the Lord that encouraged Youssef and Hee Tee to establish ministry in Algeria.
Originally from a conservative Muslim background, Youssef learnt at a young age to memorise the Qur’an, pray and fast during Ramadan. “I grew up in an environment believing that there is only one God, and Islam is the only religion for all human beings,” says Youssef. “I was very proud of being a Muslim.”
On a trip to Sweden in 1977 to visit his brother, 21-year-old Youssef was approached by a group of Christian workers reaching out to foreign students. His interaction with them began his journey to faith. Three years later, Youssef gave his life to the Lord and, shortly thereafter, joined OM.
He served in the UK with the OM Turning Point team in London for a year and a half. Then he studied at All Nations Christian College (UK), where he met Hee Tee; Hee Tee was a nurse for three years before attending All Nations. The couple moved to Algeria and began ministry in a struggling Algerian church in 1988.
After six years of hard work Youssef and Hee Tee returned to the UK for a break, but their time away from Algeria didn’t last long.
“The Lord started to speak to my heart,” says Youssef. “We had to go back to Algeria.”
Though it was tempting to stay in the UK, he and Hee Tee made plans to return. “Going back to Algeria at that time was very risky,” he remembers. In addition to civil war in the country, Youssef and Hee Tee had previously been threatened by terrorists. Twice men had come to their home, but in God’s protection, the couple wasn’t there.
In spite of possible danger and opposition from friends, they felt strongly they should return. “I felt peace,” says Youssef. “And actually, through this act of faith, through fasting and praying, God gave me the vision to start the House of Hope. It was a clear vision—just a matter of time.”
When they returned to Algeria, Youssef and Hee Tee began the House of Hope with the vision to influence the country with the good news of Christ and train Algerians for missions to their own people.
Now 15 years later, 40 adults (and 22 children) serve in the House of Hope’s 10 ministries. “God has really helped me to recruit men and women and learn to pour out my heart for them, love them, care for them, and give them responsibilities in the church and ministry,” says Youssef.
Like Youssef, many of the team members come from a Muslim background, which enables them to relate strongly to the people around them. Some learnt about Christ though Christian TV or radio, others were healed by God from illness and some saw a vision of Christ in their dreams.
Now this group seeks to bring the Truth they’ve found to people around the country through radio and satellite television, sports ministry, church planting, training and micro-enterprise business, among other things.
One ministry in particular at the House of Hope brings Christ into homes across the country. The team knows that while Christian witness is limited and literature is not widely available, radio and television reach nearly everyone.
Several hundred seekers and new believers contact the team every month, often getting in touch through the phone number given during the radio or television programmes.
Several hundred seekers and new believers contact the team every month, often getting in touch through the phone number given during the radio or television programmes.
Though offering a telephone number via satellite TV invites trouble, the team has been able to hear stories of how God is reaching people who might otherwise never hear the good news.
The media work started in 2001 by filming seminars at the Bible school. Now, the media team produces over 200 radio programmes in local dialects and almost 200 television programmes with testimonies and teaching.
Youssef tells the story of one woman who contacted the team after watching a programme. The woman, a devout Muslim, had gone to the mosque to pray every Friday. But when she started to pray, she saw a vision of a man in front of her saying, “I will teach you how to pray.” She panicked and stopped praying. This happened week after week, but she didn’t tell anyone.
Finally, she could hold it in no longer and told her sister-in-law. The family searched for the answer but couldn’t find one. They went to the imam, who told them she was demon possessed. He tried many things, but nothing worked.
One day the woman visited her brother’s home. He and his wife invited her in, saying she was welcome to stay, but that they had to go out for a bit. He showed her to the living room and gave her the TV remote control. She sat down, switched on the TV and flipped through the channels.
Coming upon a Christian programme, she stopped to listen to the man preach about Jesus. At the end, she jumped up and exclaimed, “[Jesus] was the one revealing Himself to me in the mosque!”
The woman called the phone number on the screen and shared her story with the team member who answered. Now, she is in fellowship with other believers in her area.
“When I look back since 1996, the Lord has done great things,” confirms Youssef. “The team is doing a wonderful job and God is moving in amazing ways.
“Of course, we are still in this journey of exciting things God is doing.”
